Santa Fe High’s football team figured it might have a chance Friday night

It could have been a better trip to Clovis for Santa Fe High Friday night.

Record-wise, the Wildcats and Demons were similar for this District 5-5A game, but when all was done, it was all Clovis in what became a 53-0 rout and if Santa Fe High arrived with confidence, it traveled home just the opposite, totally disappointed and dropping to 1-6 overall and 0-1 in this district opener played at Leon Williams Stadium. Its next contest is a home game and district test Friday nightagainst Los Lunas.

Meanwhile, the home team was well prepared. It cruised to a 21-0 lead with 1:22 remaining in the first quarter. It ran the ball, passed the ball, and played aggressive defense in winning for the second time overall in six starts and is now 1-0 in district.

On homecoming night, the triple-option Wildcats tallied on all four first-half drives and turned a pair of Demons’ turnovers into touchdowns. Junior running back Alex Mora did most of the damage. He engineered a 70-yard drive and pieced together 23 of his game-high 81 rushing yards. The 35-point mercy rule was applied and the tilt ended when Clovis cornerback came up with his second pick-six ask he intercepted Santa High quarterback Andrew Allen and returned it 24 yards into the end zone. It also scored back-to-back touchdowns within about 10 seconds.

As for the visitors, head coach Andrew Martinez’ Demons mixed in a shaky defense and costly turnovers.

Said Martinez: “Our play was emblematic of the team’s biggest problem this season, and we again had poor execution at the worst time. We moved the ball all game, but we also shot ourselves in the foot. It’s been the story of our season.”

Santa Fe High did move into Clovis territory on three of its first four possessions, but had nothing to show for it. It had three other early drives that did not produce.

The Wildcats play next in a Oct. 20 home game against Capital.